Chrysanthemum named Burgundy

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct dark pink decorative chrysanthemum intended for five inch or six inch pots and having an almost completely double composite inflorescence with slightly quilled florets that reveal a pale pink under side, the blooms being of medium size and profusely produced to provide a mound of color above an abundant display of foliage. This plant may be ground the year around with a nine-week response, having its best performance from April through December.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

This new chrysanthemum cultivar originated as a seedling of unknownparentage which was discovered by me in 1976 growing in a field ofchrysanthemum plants maintained at West Chicago, Ill., for breedingpurposes and in the hopes of finding new and unusual varieties havingcommercial merit. This plant attracted particular notice because of thedistinctive coloration of its blooms, which have dark pink floretsslightly quilled to reveal the light pink color of the under side.Accordingly, this new plant was propagated under my direction by meansof vegetative cuttings and was subsequently propagated through a seriesof generations to test its adaptability for commercial production.Several successive generations of this new plant have shown that itsnovel characteristics hold true from generation to generation and appearto be firmly fixed and, accordingly, this new plant is now beingpropagated for commercial purposes at West Chicago, Ill., and at Cortezand Parrish, Fla.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

This new chrysanthemum plant is illustrated by the accompanyingdrawings, of which sheet one is a full-color photographic rendition of apotted plant in full bloom to illustrate its plant and flowerformations; sheet two is a photographic close-up face view of flowers ofthis new plant which has been hand painted to show the true colors ofthe blooms according to specification; sheet three is a machine copy ofa photoprint showing the front side of typical leaves of this newvariety; and sheet four is a similar print showing the reverse side ofthe leaves shown in sheet three.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

The following is a detailed description of my new chrysanthemum plantbased upon observations of plants grown at West Chicago, Ill., and madeduring the winter of 1980-1981, the color renditions being according toThe R.H.S. Colour Chart published by The Royal Horticultural Society ofLondon, England.

THE PLANT

Origin: Seedling.

Parentage: Unknown.

Classification:

Botanic.--Chrysanthemum morifolium.

Commercial.--Pot chrysanthemum.

Form: Perennial herbaceous bush of upright shape.

Height: Varies according to growing conditions.

Branching character: Caespitose under normal conditions.

Growth: Vigorous, strong and upright.

Growth rate: Typical chrysanthemum.

Foliage:

Quantity.--Abundant.

Size of leaf.--Up to about 90 mm. long and about 60 mm. wide.

Shape of leaf.--Lanceolate with cleft margins.

Texture.--Leathery.

Ribs and veins.--Pinnate.

Color.--Upper side -- 147A. Under side -- 147B.

Petioles.--Up to about 25 mm. long.

THE BUD

Form: Globular.

Size: The size varies in both diameter and depth.

Opening rate: Typical chrysanthemum.

Color of florets:

When phyllaries first divide.--72A.

When florets begin to unfurl.--72A.

Phyllaries:

Number.--Approximately 17.

Shape.--Lanceolate.

Color.--147C.

Peduncle:

Character.--Rigid and erect.

Length.--Up to about 17 cm.

Surface aspect.--Hairy.

Color.--147D.

THE FLOWER

Blooming habit: Recurrent, blooming profusely in the Fall.

Blooms:

Size.--Medium. Diameter -- About 80 to 100 mm. Depth -- About 20 to 30mm.

Borne.--Cyme.

Shape.--An almost completely double, composite inflorescence borne on areceptacle surrounded by an involucre of bracts. The shape is generallyflat when the bloom first opens and remains flat as the bloom matures.

Petalage:

Phyllaries.--About 17 in number.

Florets.--Approximately 190 ray florets and many disc florets, thenumber of which varies.

Arrangement.--Imbricated.

Form.--Oblanceolate with rounded apex.

Texture.--Soft.

Appearance.--Satiny.

Color.--Ray florets: Top side -- 72A-B. Under side -- 73B.

Peduncle:

Length.--Varies up to about 17 cm.

Character.--Strong and upright.

Color.--147D.

Discoloration after full bloom: Color fades somewhat as the bloom ages.

Persistence: The florets hang on and dry.

Fragrance: Typical chrysanthemum.

Lasting quality:

On the plant.--About three weeks.

As a cut flower.--Not recommended.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

Stamens:

Number.--Five.

Arrangement.--Syngenesious.

Anthers.--Of insignificant size and yellow color.

Filaments.--Length: Insignificant. Color: Yellow.

Pollen.--Color: Yellow.

Pistils:

Number.--One for each floret.

Styles.--Length: Insignificant. Color: Yellow.

Stigmas.--Color: Yellow.

Ovaries: Inferior bicarpellate.

As before mentioned, this new plant is intended for five inch or sixinch pot culture and it may be grown the year around with a nine-weekresponse. This plant has its best performance, however, from Aprilthrough December and is distinguished by its dark pink overall coloringwith florets that are slightly quilled to reveal a pink under side,which highlights the dark pink general coloration of the inflorescence.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct dark pink decorative chrysanthemum,substantially as herein shown and described, particularly characterizedby the slightly quilled formation of its ray florets which reveal thepale pink coloration of the under side, and its adaptability for five orsix inch pot culture the year around under photoperiod control.